Oxfordshire families demand action after damning maternity care report
Campaigners say they're disappointed with the final report after heart breaking stories of babies dying and mothers being harmed weren’t reflected in the findings
Following the release of a major national maternity investigation, families across Oxfordshire are demanding immediate action to address severe shortcomings highlighted at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The report, led by Baroness Amos and published today, includes harrowing experiences shared during visits to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and Horton General Hospital in Banbury late last year.
Women and families recounted distressing stories of maternity care, while Trust staff described the challenging conditions they work under.
Simon Crowther, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Oxford University Hospitals, extended a profound apology to those affected:
"We apologise unreservedly to the women, babies and families who suffered in our care, or whose experience caused them grief or distress.
We failed them at some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives. We accept what families have told the investigation, the failings in care they describe in the report, and our responsibility to act.
"The report describes harm, distress and loss. It describes women and families who raised concerns about their own or their baby’s health, and who did not feel listened to or taken seriously. It describes confusing and inconsistent communication, and care that was not always safe, compassionate or individualised to them. For that, we are deeply sorry."
Campaigners: Report not reflective of pain families have faced
However, for many campaigners, this apology falls short of the change they are fighting for. Kim Thomas, co-founder of the Families Failed by Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Campaign, voiced her dissatisfaction with the findings:
"I was very disappointed in the report and my fellow campaigners in Oxford were very disappointed as well.
Valerie Amos took a lot of evidence and did many sessions with families. A lot of Oxford families took the time to talk and share their experiences, both face to face and in writing. Yet, in the section on Oxford, there's more focus on staff viewpoints rather than those harrowing stories we've heard about babies dying, babies being brain injured, mothers being physically injured, and experiencing psychological damage."
Distressing Experiences Ignored
Thomas revealed shocking accounts shared within her campaign group, now representing 800 families.
"We've heard stories of babies born with severe brain damage due to ignored warnings from mothers, women denied caesareans ending with forceps births, leading to physical injuries. These aren't just statistics; they are life-altering incidents that paint a picture of a system in dire need of change."
Hope for Future Reforms
The report calls for the appointment of a new commissioner and tighter regulations to address inconsistencies in maternity care across the country.
Thomas cautiously welcomed these suggestions but remained sceptical about their immediate impact:
"It's really hard to say at the moment whether that will make a difference. It depends on who they choose as commissioner and how much power they're given. We need people to follow standards and be held accountable when they aren't met. Only then can we see real change."
OUH's Simon Crowther assured families that their experiences would be central to the Trust’s future plans:
"We will place the experiences shared with Baroness Amos and her team at the heart of our improvement plans. Women, families, and staff will be directly involved in shaping the changes we make. Our most recent CQC inspection recognised change has begun, but the experiences in this report show how far we still have to travel."
The Trust has vowed to address the national and local report's findings with urgency, promising transparency and accountability in the journey to rebuild trust in their maternity services.